Offseason Speculation: What is Gardner's Ceiling?

Despite the fact that it was a relatively small sample of QB play this season, Gardner looked pretty damn good at times, including an impressive performance against the mighty South Carolina defense. What do you think his ceiling is? Let's say the levels are:

-All B1G QB

-All American QB

-Heisman Finalist

-Heisman Winner

-Top 15 pick

-Top 5 pick

-Number 1 overall pick

Obviously, a wide range of possibilities, but this is assuming again, an optimistic ceiling, not a prediction of what he'll necessarily turn out to be. Personally, I think his ceiling is somewhere around All-American/Heisman Finalist, a lot will also depend on his redshirt and the success of team the next couple years.

Were you watching the last five games? People are making too much out of this supposed power run game. I would bet bottom dollar the coaches want 200/200 game splits. That may seem high, but frankly it's not, especially against most of the BIG.

If we are going for that why not just 300/200? This makes us elite offensively and we want moar yards. If denard can do it by himself on multiple expectations I say we make it an offensive goal. Yes please

he played amazingly well, especially considering he was not working at qb for most of the year. But 200 yards passing a game is not going to get him in the heisman race. Unless DG can somehow keep scoring touchdowns at the sick pace he was during that 5 game stretch, he wont have the #'s Make no mistake, I am super excited about his potential and I always argued with people who claimed Bellomy had passed him. He has all of the physical tools to be great and I know he won the classroom award at the elite 11 camps..all that adds up to great potential. All that being said, I look at our schedule and only see 2 maybe 3 games( ND,OSU, maybe Neb or NW) where there will be a need for a strong passing attack. Other than that I expect the coaches to pound the run.

The question is about his ceiling, not his most likely outcome. His ceiling with respect to accolades is extremely high. If we can put together a stellar season (say two or fewer losses) and he's a big part of it, he'll probably be part of the Heisman discussion. I'm not saying that's likely, but it's certainly possible.

Kinda suprised I didnt get hit with the flamebait. Usually I'm cautiously optimistic, but I feel like a heisman season is very unlikely this year. We are still waiting for Hoke's recruits to kick in, so maybe next year if DG gets the redshirt. It'll seem more likely then.

Exactly. I feel like his ceiling is what Borges' playcalling allows it to be. I think/hope we'll see improved o-line, rb, and wr play this year (Gallon really started showing some breakout potential towards the end of last year, and I see Funchess and Dileo having big years), so my big question mark will be the RPS game and making adjustments to exploit defenses, and that frankly has left me unimpressed more often than not under Borges. Trying to be cautiously optimistic though that Borges will design a solid offense around Devin, who is a better fit for his style than Denard was.

I think his ceiling is extremely high. If he puts the work in this offseason and the O-Line wide receivers gel early I think he could do anything on that list. If he gets the redshirt I highly doubt he leaves regardless of what he does this year. Anyone know the status of his redshirt yet or when we will find out?

But if the receivers can step up or a top talent can emerge (Darboh?) then maybe All-American. I wouldn't say he can get into the top 15 in the draft, but I'd be surprised if after coming back for his redshirt senior season and devloping nicely, he doesn't go by the end of round 2.

I don't know that he out performs say Braxton Miller, but few QBs will next year. I think DG will have a very strong season, and we see the best offensive season for Michigan to date (in the Hoke era.)

If he can significantly improve his accuracy, I think he can have potentially an All-American season, maybe a Heisman finalist. But that's a tall order. He showed flashes of brilliance against South Carolina, but he had a lot of trouble hitting wide open receivers at times.

All depends on if he puts in the time in the offseason. I think he will, and I remain cautiously optimistic. My ultimate guess is All Big Ten next Fall, and if he sticks around until 2014, that could be a really special year.

Attention campers. Lunch is cancelled due to lack of hustle. Deal with it.

Honestly i rather see less accuracy but quick decision and i think the reason he is not accurate is because he makes very quick decision and releases soo quick that he doesnt think twice about the throw.. Denard always would sit there and think too much which led to a sack or him trying to outrun the defense

he has shown he has the arm strength (Rountree vs. Northwestern), but if he can consistently hit our WR on the money, while still utilizing his altheticism, he is going to be scary good. As an aside, DG has GREAT instincts and decision making skills (the former is absolutely unbelievable).

If he can add some zip on the ball then he can climb towards that ceiling. He has shown he can run/scramble, he has decent awareness, has the size and we know he can throw the ball deep. I just need to see balls get there more quickly and with less arc, personally.

Devin can and will be a great QB, he has what Michigan needs; size, arm strength, quick release, can outrun defenders and accurate on his throws.. Does he need work? Yes he does, he needs to improve on some of the areas but i love the fact that he keeps calm even when they are behind... I hate to say this but he reminds of Terrell Pryor, big guy, not fast but with his long legs he can collect some yards and make ppl miss.. Devin needs to add some size also, but he will work hard and pull through, he loves Michigan and will do anything to win

He is inevitably going to be underrated by the press going into next season, I don't expect him to be on any of the preseason all B1G teams but he will have a tremendous season next year and hopefully the year after.

I think that could take a big swing by mid-season with as backloaded as the schedule is. If they handle ND and he has a good game, I'd say to look for him in the top 3s/5s on a lot of Heisman lists. Whether he can bring it home in the second half of the season is a whole different animal.

15 TDs and 12 INTs. Guh, Brady sucks. That guy just doesn't have what it takes to be an elite QB. Time to move onto the kid. Henson's gonna be a superstar in the NFL. We'd might as well cut our losses with this Brady bum and turn the keys over to our future franchise quarterback.

I can't wait to tell my grandkids about how I was there to see Drew Henson quarterback Michigan. In person.